England delivered a
performance almost tailor-made to force coach Kevin Keegan into
exile as Germany spoiled the Wembley farewell with a priceless World
Cup qualifying win. Keegan's tactical limitations were exposed
as cruelly as England's technical deficiencies in a display as
rundown as the famous stadium itself. And as Keegan walked off
with a chorus of catcalls ringing in his ears after England's dismal
effort, he was ready to hand his resignation to shocked FA
officials.

The pressure finally proved too
much for Keegan, under fire after the failures of Euro 2000, as
England penned the worst possible final page in Wembley's history
books. It was also a sad farewell to the Twin Towers for
Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman after his blunder gifted Dietmar
Hamann an early goal that turned out to be Germany's winner.
Coach Keegan called on England to give Wembley something to remember
them by before the bulldozers move in - but they failed to deliver
as the curse of Germany returned to haunt them again. Germany
demonstrated their rediscovered resilience under new coach Rudi
Voller, while Keegan once again left himself exposed to allegations
of tactical naivety with a controversial team selection that
backfired. Wembley has seen many glorious occasions and
historical landmarks in its 77-year history - but this would not
have been remembered as one of them except for the drama that
unfolded behind the scenes after the final whistle. England
were short on ideas and invention as the rain lashed down at
Wembley, and Germany deserved the win for their greater organisation
alone.

Keegan wanted to continue the
reversal in fortunes that came with the Euro 2000 victory over
Germany, instead Voller's side revived bitter memories of the years
of hurt to get England's World Cup 2002 campaign off to the worst
possible start.

It left England in desperate
need of a result in Finland on Wednesday - and Keegan feeling he had
no option other than to quit. Keegan showed his gambler's
instinct to the last by giving Gareth Southgate the holding midfield
role ahead of established figures Paul Ince and Dennis Wise.
But it was Germany who settled quicker to their task at rain-soaked
Wembley - and the conditions played a crucial part in Hamann's
opener after 13 minutes. England were slow to form a defensive
wall after Paul Scholes fouled Michael Ballack fully 30 yards from
goal. And Seaman was equally slow to react to Hamann's instant
right foot strike as it skidded along the turf, only getting a hand
to the ball as it slipped agonisingly into the net. It was a
nightmare revisited for the pony-tailed Arsenal veteran, who
admitted his worst Wembley moment - before Hamann's intervention -
was allowing Paul Gascoigne's long range free-kick to beat him in an
FA Cup semi-final.

England had their own set-piece
opportunity six minutes later, but David Beckham's free kick was
comfortably collected by Oliver Kahn. Germany grew in
confidence throughout the first half, while England struggled to
establish any sort of supremacy, with Michael Owen and Andy Cole
starved of worthwhile service. Cole did escape the close
attentions of the German defence briefly to test Kahn with a header
in one of England's few threatening first half moments. And
Germany were swift to demonstrate their danger again when Seaman was
forced to save low to his right from Carsten Ramelow's shot.

England's best moment of a
bitterly disappointing opening period came three minutes before the
interval, when captain Tony Adams stole in on Beckham's free kick at
the far post, forcing a spectacular diving save from Kahn. Keegan's lack-lustre England
needed to find attacking impetus from somewhere - and Newcastle's
Kieron Dyer was chosen to provide it. He replaced Manchester
United's Gary Neville as England looked to change the shape of the
game. But Germany remained dangerous - and Seaman needed to
make amends for his earlier blunder to stop them doubling their
advantage after 52 minutes. The dangerous Mehmet Scholl
turned Martin Keown inside the penalty area, and brought a fine
one-handed save from Seaman as Oliver Bierhoff waited to pounce
inside the six-yard area. Beckham looked to be England's
best creative hope, and he brought more acrobatics from Kahn with a
trademark 25-yard drive which the Germany keeper touched over the
bar. England had finally forced Germany into retreat, and Owen
wasted a chance to equalise when his control was poor after he was
put through.

And as Germany's composure was
seriously disturbed for the first time, England saw another
opportunity wasted when Nicky Barmby's cross drifted behind his
team-mates as they raced into the penalty area. Beckham was
still striving to put England back on terms, and another long range
effort was narrowly off target after 78 minutes. England's
desire to attack left them vulnerable on the break, and Germany
almost took advantage, but were given a reprieve when sweeper Jens
Nowotny stumbled at point blank range. Beckham immediately
limped off with what looked like a recurrence of the knee injury
that made him doubtful before the game, and with him went England's
last hope of starting their World Cup campaign with a win.
Wembley's farewell fireworks were washed away by the rain - but
nothing could dampen German celebrations after they ruined the party
Keegan and England had planned for the great old stadium's final
day. And for Keegan himself, that final walk down Wembley's
tunnel may have been the sight of a legend striding into football
exile.